ND Participates in First Ignite Michiana

“Enlighten us, but make it quick!” Designed to allow creative community members to share their passions, Ignite Michiana on Thursday, March 28th offers an opportunity to learn more about numerous South Bend initiatives in an enlightening evening at The State Theater in downtown South Bend.

The theme of this year’s Ignite program is Sustainability and Innovation, and the fascinating line-up of speakers includes two members of the Notre Dame community. Jessica Baron of the Reilly Center will speak on “Emerging Ethical Dilemmas in Science and Technology”. Myles Robertson of the Office of Sustainability will give a presentation titled “Take Back the Tap”.

For $10, attendees can listen to a diverse group of community members speak for five minutes each on topics ranging from cloud computing to urban agriculture. The event includes intermission entertainment and will conclude with an after-party until 11pm in the newly reopened State Theater. Food from Thyme of Grace, Stevie’s, and Rabbit Moon Bakery, along with a selection of beers and wines, will be available for purchase.

“This event is for anyone who wants to find out about the many positive things happening right now in the city and see how businesses, community organizations and individuals are making connections to improve the economic landscape and our quality of life while protecting and preserving our natural resources,” explains Willow Wetherall, organizer of Ignite Michiana. “The event will change how people think and talk about South Bend and leave people excited about the growth and change that is occurring.”

Ignite is a worldwide phenomenon aptly summarized by the tagline, “enlighten us, but make it quick.” Each presentation at an Ignite talk consists of 20 slides that advance automatically every 15 seconds, detailing whatever the presenter is most passionate about. Since its inception in Seattle in 2006, Ignite has spread to over 100 cities across the globe.

Additional information can be found on the event’s website. Those interested can purchase tickets here.